Australian National Field Days welcomes $2.7 million in funding package for field days

The 2020 ANFD was cancelled in July due to COVID-19 restrictions around mass gatherings but the path back to Borenore was made clearer this week.

The Australian National Field Days will share in $2.7 million in funding announced by the Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack and the Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud.

The package allows each field day which has had to be cancelled due to COVID-19 to apply for $70,000.

It also gives the Association of Agricultural Field Days Australasia (AAFDA) $100,000 to hold a member conference in 2021 and provide training and assistance for members on recovery management planning.

Mrs West said the funding is a welcome boost for rural and regional Australia, with the October-run ANFD a rural institution having run each year for the last 68 prior to 2020.

"Field days play a vital role in educating the community about the importance of agriculture and make a valuable contribution to social fabric and the economy of rural and regional communities," she said, thanking Federal member for Calare, Andrew Gee for his assistance and support in lobbying the government.

"We don't exactly know when we will be able to hold our next event, but this funding will help ensure we can continue to return bigger and better than ever for our local communities," Mrs West continued.

The ANFD attracted more than 20,000 visitors and suppliers, putting over $40,000 back into community groups.

"Field days also connect farmers to suppliers and each other to facilitate innovation and best practice farming," she said.

"Australian National Field Days has been operating for 68 years through floods, drought, fires and, with support, we will not let Coronavirus destroy this important community event."

Mr McCormack said the funding is part of an overall $39 million commitment to help show societies and field days deal with cash-flow pressures caused by COVID-19 cancellations under the Government's $1 billion COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Fund.

Nationally, field days provide income to local contractors of more $1.8 million and economic value add to the Australian economy of more than $100 million.

The next ANFD is scheduled from October 21 to 23, 2021.